Meth-Resistant Cold Medicines To Hit The Shelves This Week

Battling meth and the common cold at the same time: a new type of so-called meth resistant cold medicines will hit the shelves this week.

Tuesday, December 11th 2012, 5:48 pm



Battling meth and the common cold at the same time: a new type of so-called meth resistant cold medicines will hit the shelves this week.

Cold season has many of us searching the stores for relief. But medications containing pseudoephedrine is behind the counter to keep it out of the hands of those making meth.

Now the manufactures of Nexafed say they have a product that still contains pseudoephedrine but turns into a gooey mess when used to make meth.

"We have the exact same relief profile for congestion that any consumer from the products that are on the shelf today that don't have the meth resistant features in them," said Bob Jones, President and CEO of Acura Pharmaceuticals.

Law enforcement says they have been asking manufactures for something like this for years.

"We are excited but guardedly optimistic," said Mark Woodward, spokesperson with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

It will take time, however, to see if customers still find the drug effective and if it truly is tamper proof.

"We're hopeful that this is going to work and if it is, it could be the silver bullet that we've been waiting for two decades here in Oklahoma and around the U.S.," Woodward said.

A similar product called Zephrex has already been selling in Missouri.

Manufacturers say they are delighted others are also working to not only to curb the meth problem but make it easier for all of us to get better.

"Our goal longer term if we started showing the impact we think we can have on abuse, hopefully we can reduce some of these restrictions on the consumer make it easier for them to get their cold medicines again," Jones said.

We are told the cost of the new medications will be about the same. For now you will still have to ask your pharmacist for the drugs, and they will be restricted the same way as other drugs that contain pseudoephedrine.

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